Wrench



V. A. LILLQUIST.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 17. 1919.

Patented Sept. 7, 192%.,

ATTORN EY.

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VICTOR A. LILLQUIST, OF- S UPERIQB, WISCONSIN.

WRENCH.

Application filed November 17, 1919. Serial No. 338,602.

2' ozZZ HJ/lO/W, it may concern:

I nown that l, Vroron A. Lrtnoorsr, a of Finland, residing at Superior, in the county Dou las and State 01 Wisconsin, have invented certain new and use- ":l Improvements in renches, or which the following is a specification, reference ic n had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invei ion relates wrenc ies and has special ieierence to automatically closing wrench.- The principal object is to provide a more convenient, durz his and pi 4 cal wrench than heretofore known.

ither objects and advantages of the peculiar structure will appear in the further description of the invention.

the accompanying drawings forming p rt this a lication and in which like once charact indicate like parts 1:

ignre 1 is a side elevation of one of my assembledwrenches with the near half of the handle housing removed.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a pipe gripping jaw adaptable to the wrench.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 33, Fig. 1, and

Fig. & is a transverse sectional view on the line M, Fig. 1.

The main body portion of the wrench comprises a shank 1 and handle 2, the former being substantially I-shaped in cross section and the handle is, a continuation of same except that the central portion thereof is cut out, forming an elongated slot 3, the inner end wall 4 of which is of the same width as the lower cross bar 5 of the I of the shank, the opposite end 6 of the handle being the same thickness.

A suitably shaped jaw is formed integral with the shank 1 and a somewhat similarly shaped movable 8 though longer than the j aw 7 is slidably mounted against the inner face of the shank l and has integrally formed therewith a shank 9 extending longitudinally the lower edge of the other shank and handle.

The 8 has upwardly and inwardly extending rectangularly shaped opposed enmembers 10 which slidably operate within the channels formed in the sides of the shank 1. A portion indicated at 11 of the cross bar 5 in the shank and adjacent the end wall l of the slot 8 is cut away upon both sides flush with the face of the bottom of the channels, this being for the purpose Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. '7,

of perniittin application and noval of the engaging members 10 when desired.

An expansive spiral spring 12 is mounted in the angle formed at the outer termination of the handle, the office or" which is to normally hold the dog 13 with its notched face engaging the notcl es 1 1- in the shank 9 oil? the jaw 8, the handle end 15 of the dog adjacent its engagement with the spring leing conveniently shaped for engagement by preferably the little finger of the operators hand.

A second expansive spiral siring 16 is mounted intermediate of the end of the shank 9 and the side of he spring 12- the oflice of which spring is to normally main tain the jaw 8 in its farthermost extended or closed position in relation to the fixed jaw, thus when the dog 13 is released from engagement with the teeth of the shank the spring 16 will automatically force the latter outwardly, it being of the proper tension not to actuate the shank 9 so long as the dog 13 is in normal engagement therewith.

One side wall of the handle housing is indicated atl? the other being identical in shape except that it has no angular extension and is omitted for convenience of illustration. These side walls are both formed with concavo-conveX channels indicated at 18 extending longitudinally thereof and forming suitable side walls in the spring tunnel or channel to prevent the spring 16 from buckling or getting out of position.

I prefer to form integral with the side wall 17 the lower edge wall 19 of the handle, having suitable enlargements for the through rivets indicated at 20 by which the side walls are firmly united to the handle of the wrench,and which also hold the pivotal support 21 of the dog 13.

I have shown at 22 a triangularly shaped serrated movable aw having opposed holding straps 23-23 rigidly fixed thereto and which straps carry slight protrusions 24: upon the inner free ends thereofand which protrusions register with suitable recesses indicated at 25 on the sides of the jaw 8 of the wrench so that when desired the jaw in ay he sprung into position upon the aw 8 and frictionally carried thereby when it is desir d to use the wrench for operation upon a pipe or other cylindrical object.

In operation and after assemblage, the wrench is used ordinarily with one hand it being evident that by pressing inwardly of the handle end of the dog 13 the shank 9 is released and the spring 16 will expansively contract the jaws 7 and 8 upon any object desired and by releasing pressure upon the handle of the dog the wrench will be so locked for turning action. 'lo agaln open the jaws all that is necessary is to dejaws will remain in such spaced position as before described.

Attention is again directed to the jaw 8 being longer than the jaw 7 which is for convenience in applying'the wrench to the nut or bolt inan inaccessible position; and when it is not convenient to open the jaws of the wrench in any other way the latter may be placed with the projection of the jaw 8 against the side of the nut or any other convenient object, and by pushing forward of the wrench the jaws may be readily separated to any distance desired, as is ob vious.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I

1. The combination with a wrencho'f the character described including a main shank having opposed rectangularly shaped channels in its sides and a fixed jaw on the forward end thereof, a spring actuated shank carrying a jaw and slidably engaged with the main shankhaving two opposed integrally formed engaging members thereupon which cooperatively engage with the channels'in'the main shank, said slidable shank having teeth adjacent the opposite end thereof, a spring for actuating the slidable shank, and a toothed spring actuated lever for holding said shank in any predetermined position and a two part separable handle portion, there being cut away portions in the main shank whereby when the slidable shank is inits farthermost open position and the handle portions separated the shanks may be removed from engagement with each other. 7

2. The combination with a wrench of the character described including a main shank with a fixed working jaw at one end and an L-shaped termination at the other end, a slidable shank carrying a working jaw for cooperative action with the other working jaw, and having teeth formed in the lower end thereof, a two part handle, and an expansive spiral spring intermediate of the end ofthe slidable shank and the L-shaped termination of the main shank, of a pivoted toothedlever intermediate of the two parts of the handle, engaging the toothed portion of the slidable shank for holding it in any predetermined position and an expansive spiral spring intermediate of the end of the first mentioned spiral spring and the L- shaped termination of the main shank, engaging the operative end of, the lever and holding it normally extended adjacent said L-shaped extension.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

vro'ron A. LILLQUIST.

Vvitnesses:

WV. H. DENHAM, S. Gno. STEVENS. 

